Going into our Spiritual Rhythms Retreat, I had no idea what to expect. All I was told was that it was going to be in Alabama, and we were going to be left alone for 6 hours in the woods one day! As the Lord often does, He moved me more than I could’ve ever imagined. Through the book we had to read, Habits of Grace by David Mathis, along with many of the Impact teachers, the Lord taught me many things on that trip.
I learned how valuable spiritual disciplines are, and I was immediately convicted by the Holy Spirit on how I’d been neglecting them.
I realized I had a wrong view of spiritual disciplines. These disciplines aren’t just a box to check. They are habits cultivated to seek, savor, and enjoy Jesus Christ and His saving grace.
One specific discipline I’m really excited to implement in my life is a daily intentional morning time with God. I say intentional because I had done morning quiet time before, but I realized during the trip that it was very impersonal and was filled with misconceptions. I’d just read random passages of the Bible without actively seeking what the Lord was saying to me during it. I also realized my prayers were very shallow and often unfocused after reading the Word. It felt as if I was saying the same things repeatedly to God. Ultimately, I realized I never took it seriously.
During and even after the trip, that all changed. Learning how important spiritual disciplines are and realizing they aren’t just an end in themselves ignited a desire to really take my morning time more seriously. When I got back from the trip, I made sure to do my morning time with more intention than I had ever had. I started an actual Bible reading plan, along with starting to journal my prayers, as it keeps my thoughts more focused on God. I took it much slower, and I felt closer to the Lord. These past few morning times have been more fruitful than all the ones I’ve had in the past 3 years.
Ultimately, I learned how vital a morning time is with the Lord, and when done with intention and the right view, it’s something I can’t go without now.
Aidan Jones, Class of 2027
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